Electronic tube base and the like



R. L. ELLIOTT ELECTRONIC TUBE AsE AND THE LIKE Filed May 28 1949 Feb. 3, 1953 Patented Feb. 3, 1953 ELECTRONIC TUBE BASE AND THE LIKE Richard L. Elliott, Sidney, N. Y.,. assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, New York, N. Y.,-a

corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1949, Serial No. 96,1 19

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrical apparatus and more particularly to means for. combining. electronic tubes and the like with the base and terminal prongs therefor.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide mounting means in novel combination with the glass, metallic or other type envelopes of electronic tubes or the like which results in an ultimate product having numerous advantages over corresponding present-day products of' the same type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic tube or the like combined with terminal prongs in a novel manner to withstand a greater amount of rough handling and of vibration for a longer period of time than similar devices heretofore produced.

Still another object is to provide a device of the above character. whichmay be producedby fewer manufacturing steps and at lower cost than has been heretofore considered possible.

A further object is to provide a novel plug-in type of electronictube construction wherein the base which supports the terminals? and the envelope prevents the entrance of moisture and. hence reduces the danger of failure caused in known constructions by the lowering of the-electrical resistance between the terminals when moisture is present.

A still furtherobject is to provide an electronic tube of the. abovecharacter. which is admirably adapted for use in ignition systems:ofllcombustion engines on aircraft where the same are subjected to rough usage, to material vibration, and to wide and sudden changes of temperature and pressure during normal use;

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more'fully appearfrom the following detail description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, with parts broken away and partly in section, of one form or device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through one of the terminals of said device.

The single embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, by way of example; is in the form of an electronic tube comprising an envelope [0 of glass or other suitable material. The internal construction. of the tubehas not been shown since it, per se, does not constitute a part of the invention and may take a great many different known forms. As an example, the invention has been successfully appliedto the type of cold cathode tube known as astrobotron'. If a metallic envelope is employed the lower end thereof is preferably sealed with a glass seal to isolate the interior of the tube: The invention may also beapplied to tubes having a terminal at the upper end thereof;

The internal elements of the tube, such as'the cathode, plate, grids, and the like, are connected in the usual known manner by means of: flexible wire connectors I l to rigid, preferably cylindrical, prong terminals 12. The latter may be tubular so that the wires H will extend therethroug-h for connection to the lower or outerendsthere of by any suitable means, such as by soldering.

The terminals or plugs I2 are adapted for in-'- sertion in corresponding recesses or sockets m a socket member (not shown) of any knowncon-- struction. It desired, the terminals IZmay be solid rather than hollow and the wires l I may be connected with the upper or inner ends thereof;

Novel means are comprehended bya thisinvention for the purpose of mounting theenvelope and terminal prongs in fixed relation to eachother, whereby the tube is cushioned against shock and vibration and protected againstfail' ures caused by moisture and temperature changes. Said means also makesthe: construction easier to manufacture at lower cost.. In the form shown in the drawings; said means. consists of a cast base or mounting member [4 which-may be applied to the other parts in a moldiinliquid or plastic formand thereafter permitted to set-to a: relatively firm}; yet resilient. solid form through; chemical reaction which may be and preferably is accelerated by the application of heat. Preferably a compound is chosen which will shrink slightly during the setting or curing process to insure a firm grip on the envelope and terminal plugs or prongs.

One material which has been found well. suited for carrying out the present invention is known as Scintilla compound No. 115. It comprises a styrene polyester casting resin mixed with an organic peroxide catalyst whereby polymeriza-r tion of the resin is effected. Suitable resins of the above type are commercially available and lauroyl peroxide makes a suitable catalyst therefor.

The molding Or casting of the base l4 may be effected under pressure or vacuum so that the compound will enter the hollow terminals 12 around wires H and the recess in the bottom of envelope ID. The curing or setting of the compound may be eifected by the application of heat in a suitable oven at a sufiiciently slow rate and for a suitable length of time to avoid cracking of the particular compound used. These factors will of course differ with different specific compositions used as molding material. Curing is preferably effected to the point that the material is firm when at room temperature and yet capable of yielding resiliently when, for example, a side pressure is applied to one of the terminals [2 or to the envelope [0. When the structure is used on a combustion engine, for example, and is subjected to high heat during operation, the material of base M will soften slightly and thereby increase the cushioning ef'fect and avoid any danger of cracking due to vibration or other shock.

If desired, either the terminal prongs or envelope or both may be provided with irregularities, such as fins or corrugations, in the regions where the same are engaged by the base Hi. The terminals may also be flared at the top or inner ends to facilitate insertion of the Wires H and entry of the compound. In order to provide even greater protection for the envelope, the molded compound 14 may be extended around the remainder of the envelope preferably in the form of a thin coating (illustrated by construction lines in Fig. 1) which may be integral with the base I4. Each terminal I2 may have a rib It which acts as a stop to determine the limit of movement of the terminal into a socket.

There is thus provided a novel construction for electronic tubes or the like which results in an expansion in the field of use of such tubes and makes'the same available at lower cost. Additionally, tubes constructed in accordance with the novel method above described will have a greater useful life under comparable circumstances than similar tubes heretofore available. Said novel method may be advantageously carried out with the casting material and the other elements of the structure at room temperature or at a sufficiently low temperature to obviously prevent any ill effects therefrom. The base or support may also be cast without the application of pressure beyond normal atmospheric pressure or any pressure which might be detrimental. Similar structures which have been heretofore produced by molding have employed materials which required substantial heating and the application, of considerable pressure during the molding operation.

Although only a limited number of embodiments are shown in the drawing and suggested in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as well as in the materials specifically mentioned, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as it will now be understood by those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic tube or the like comprising a hollow envelope, at least one flexible electrical conductor emerging from said envelope, a rigid hollow terminal pin receiving said conductor and being electrically connected therewith, and a unitary support of resilient insulating material cast around said conductor, an end portion of said pin, and at least a portion of said envelope and Within said terminal around said conductor.

2. In a device of the class described, an envelope, an electrical conductor emerging from said envelope, a hollow terminal pin receiving said conductor and electrically connected thereto, and a unitary solid mass of resilient insulating compound filling the space in said'terminal around said conductor and encompassing an end portion of said pin and at least a portion of said envelope to support the same in assembled relaion.

3. A device of the class described comprising a hollow envelope, conductors emerging therefrom, hollow terminal pins receiving and connected to said conductors, and a resilient insulating material completely surrounding said envelope, end portions of said pins, and said conductors and filling said pins around the conductors therein.

4. An electronic tube or the like comprising a hollow envelope having an external recess in one end thereof, electrical conductors emerging from said envelope through said recess, hollow rigid terminal pins electrically connected to said conductors, and a yieldable unitary supporting base filling said recess, surrounding adjacent ends of said envelope and pins and said conductors therebetween and filling said pins around said conductors. 1

RICHARD L. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,557 Flint, Jr. June 19, 1883 1,660,025 Allen, Jr. Feb. 21,1928 1,702,234 Goodridge Feb. 12, 1929 1,857,203 Van Liempt May 10, 1932 1,937,202 McCollough Nov. 28, 1933 1,985,028 Gehrts Dec. 18, 1934 2,193,294 Osenberg Mar. 12, 1940 2,424,990 Krim Aug. 5, 1947 

